Data tags - ability to choose "insertion point" or "center" for auto placement.

[hollister design Studio]

I would like the ability to choose "insertion point" or "center" for auto placement.

As it is a data tag seems to attach to the center of the object (when using the "all eligible object mode" at least).

 

 

It would be nice to have a setting to snap to center of object OR snap to insertion point - especially with grouped objects, like multiple plants combined into a single plant object.

 

Currently with grouped plant objects I have to repoint EVERY data tag to the proper place.

 

 

Screen grab showing auto-placement and current insertion point:

 

 

 

I don't see an option for this on any of the data tag style tabs - but it does seem like it should be on the "auto placement" tab.

 

 

 

In all honesty I would like to have the ability to auto select the start or end of the grouped plant object - but that's a completely different wish.

grouped plants need some tweaking...

 

 

Edited December 2, 2022 by hollister design Studio

[Mark Aceto]

My experience has been whatever I snap to on the first object will be repeat for the rest. So if I snap to insertion, the rest will too. Is that not happening for you?

[hollister design Studio]

@Mark Aceto I use the "all eligible objects" mode to propagate my plant callouts - I then rearrange as needed.

I like that mode as it's "one click" to get everything tagged.

 

"All eligible objects" auto select:

 

'One click':

My issue is that for every group object (the red boxes above) the leader line doesn't go to the start or end of the group, but to the center of the group.

See that group of 11 grasses at the upper left corner.

 

 

 "Align/distribute leader lines":

This process would be SO much quicker if the tool allowed the choice of "center", "insert point", or start/end of poly line.

 

 

I believe most graphic standards (at least here in america) require the leader to be connected to the end of a plant grouping for clarity, as opposed to the center.

I know ours does at least!

 

 

[Mark Aceto]

I think I mostly get what you're hoping to accomplish, although I have some question about the groups. I'm gonna send you an invite the SB user group meeting tonight at 5pm because there are some folks there that should be able to help you solve this.

[heavy manners]

This function would help me a lot with door tags, too. For now, they can only auto-center on the object center, which is of absolutely no help at all for doors, where I want them aligned to, and offset from, the insertion point. I have thus resorted to the old "link text to record" function, because there I can at least position the tag within the symbol, but the severe layout and concatenation limits there makes life hard for me on another front.

 

Wouldn't it be possible somehow to combine the best of these two features, which would be akin to being able to put a data tag inside the symbol to which it refers?

I know there is the possibility of making a group (blue) symbol of the door and its tag, but that has lots of disadvantages, including user comprehension (I cannot impose this on my colleagues), difficult access to the door symbol itself (having to go through the group each time), and/or risk of tag displacement if you ungroup, etc.